Smoking gun...it's not just about thimerosal
I'm still without a laptop, but wanted to get this up, particularly since the Bush Administration officially unveiled it's "Clear Skies" policy this week, dramatically pushing back the lowering of mercury emissions by decades.
This abstract arrived in this morning's Schafer Autism Report. I'll link to the full report when it comes out, but I think this sadly speaks for itself:
Environmental Mercury Release, Special Education Rates, and Autism Disorder: An Ecological Study of Texashttp://tinyurl.com/68ssl
Raymond F. Palmera, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Steven Blanchardb, Zachary Steina, David Mandellc and Claudia Millera, aUniversity of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio Department of Family and Community Medicine, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA, bDepartment of Sociology, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas, USA, cUniversity of Pennsylvania Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, USA doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2004.11.005 Accepted 1 November 2004. Available online 17 February 2005. [Thanks to B. Manning.]
AbstractThe association between environmentally released mercury, special education and autism rates in Texas was investigated using data from the Texas Education Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
A Poisson regression analysis adjusted for school district population size, economic and demographic factors was used.
There was a significant increase in the rates of special education students and autism rates associated with increases in environmentally released mercury.On average, for each 1000 lb of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43% increase in the rate of special education services and a 61% increase in the rate of autism.
The association between environmentally released mercury and special education rates were fully mediated by increased autism rates.
This ecological study suggests the need for further research regarding the association between environmentally released mercury and developmental disorders such as autism.
These results have implications for policy planning and cost analysis.
This is particularly troubling for us, as the frontpage of the Portland Press Herald last week screamed that the EPA found numerous mercury "hotspots" around New York, New England, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Maine being particularly effected.
More on this as it develops and when my laptop returns.
Comments
Autism rates rose sharpley between 1987 and 1992- this was seen as a world wide phenomena. I checked back and the Chernobyl nuclear accident occured on april 26, 1986-- anyone pregant or who became pregnant after this date could have been affected-- does a nuclear accident release heavy metals including mercury into the air? Is this a possible cause or contributor to the world wide increase in that 6 year period?
Just a thought.
Posted by: Karen Chase | March 15, 2005 09:04 PM
Hi, passing through on a busy morning and wonder if you can answer a question for my only half-caffeinated self and I'll check back after I get back from trying to save the arctic national wildlife refuge today -- *is* there a link between thimerosal and autism? I thought it had been ruled out. I've got 2 kids, and one of 'em is soon to get vaccinations again and now I'm wondering if I need to investigate brand names of the vaccine -- it's the mmr vaccine isn't it? Thanks in advance. :) -desi
Posted by: des | March 16, 2005 08:11 AM
NIH did a public song-and-dance about there not being compelling evidence of a link between thimerosal and autism, and then a whistleblower leaked the minutes to an NIH meeting with vaccine manufacturers which indicated that their latest research did in fact point to a statistically significant correlation between thimerosal and autism.
However, most vaccines in the US no longer contain thimerosal. Just make sure with your child's doctor that it's a single dose.
The MMR controversy is completely different. A well-respected British gastroenterologist asserts (and has some pretty compelling research to back him up) that when the measles and mumps vaccines are given together, they can cause a condition known as autistic entercolitis - autism with a specific form of bowel disease. My eldest son developed what appears to be this condition (according to his pediatric gastroenterologist) after he had his MMR shot at 15 months.
The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine and never contained mercury. Neither did the polio vaccine.
My youngest (now 2.5) goes for her first vaccination ever this afternoon. It will probably be polio or DTaP. We'll never do MMR again. If we can get split shots with 12 months separating, then we'll do it. Otherwise we'll risk it until an alternative is offered.
Posted by: MB | March 16, 2005 09:54 AM
I wouldn't do any of them again. When he's 16 and past the early developmental years, maybe. But if I ever had another baby (which now is doubtful) they would NOT get them. Period.
Supposedly now vaccines PRODUCED in the US don't have thimerosal - but that doesn't count the ones that have been sitting on the shelves for years that may still have an unexpired expiration date. Don't trust the doctor's word - ask to see all the dates yourself.
Posted by: Moi ;) | March 16, 2005 02:50 PM
Thanks so much for the info!
-Desi
Posted by: des | March 16, 2005 07:34 PM
i have an autistic child (my 2nd son). He regulasrly suffers from acute constipation and we have to resort to medicating with "COLVAC" every week and at times even that does'nt help and we resort to "INSERTING" dulcolax repository to make him go. He goes thru' Hell before he clears out a BIG mass. AND he literally goes starving two days before this episode of clearance and a day after.Any tips on causes and solutions? Thanks.
R.SHYAMSUNDAR,CHENNAI,INDIA 25.3.2005
Posted by: shyam | March 25, 2005 01:29 AM